Illinois Coyotes: 5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Them

In Illinois, coyotes are everywhere.

I got today's reminder that coyotes in Illinois are super-abundant when I watched two of them sprint across the back acreage here at the radio station. We also play host to a family of foxes, a red-tailed hawk that loves to sit on the towers, and the occasional white-tailed deer that wanders through.

This morning's visit from a pair of coyotes made me think that despite how common they are, most of us still don't know much about these incredibly adaptable animals.

Other than what we know from the old cartoons involving a roadrunner and several deliveries from ACME products.

brown and black short coated dog lying on green grass during daytime

I Promised You Some Things You Probably Didn't Know About Them, So Let's Get Started

Here are five things you may not know about Illinois coyotes:

1. They're found in every county in Illinois.
Coyotes are one of the state's most successful wildlife species, thriving in farm country, forests, suburbs and even downtown Chicago. They're so adaptable that they can make a home almost anywhere.

2. There are a lot more of them than you think.
No one knows the exact statewide population because coyotes are constantly moving, but wildlife biologists say Illinois supports a healthy and widespread population. Hunter harvest surveys average roughly 85,000 coyotes annually, yet that's believed to represent only a fraction of the total population.

a fox in the grass

But Wait, There's More

3. They're actually helping us.
While coyotes sometimes get blamed for everything from missing cats to spooky nighttime howls, their primary diet is made up of mice, voles, rabbits and other small mammals. In urban areas, they're also known to eat plenty of rats.

4. They're devoted parents.
Coyotes usually mate in February, with pups arriving in April. Mom stays with the young while Dad does much of the hunting, bringing food back to the den. The family often stays together until the young disperse in the fall.

5. They'd rather avoid you than confront you.
Despite their reputation, healthy coyotes are naturally wary of people. Most sightings last only a few seconds before the animal slips away. If you do encounter one, give it space, keep pets close and never feed it.

Love them or not, coyotes have become one of Illinois' greatest wildlife success stories. Whether you're in downtown Chicago, Rockford, or a quiet country road, chances are you've got a few coyote neighbors. You just don't see them very often.